Indicator means for car-seats



N. J. RYAN. INDICATOR MEANS FOR CAR SEATS.

APPLICATION FXLED MAY 5l 1920.

1,371,81 6. A rPatented Mar. 15,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

VIVI-(080.4

WHA/5385s L 1mm/rol? J I N R5 o n A Br r l f f Arron/JEVS N. 1. RYAN.

INDICATOR MEANS FOR CAR SEATS.

APPucATloN .FILED MAY 5, 1920.

1,371,816. Patented-Mar. 15,1921.l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l1 TTOR/VEYS Ll O UNITE-D STATES PATENT orsi i NICHOLAS J. RYAN, or TUCKAHOE, lNEW YORK..v

INDICATOR MEANS FOR CAR-SEATS...

To all 'w hom t may concer/ri: 1 Y

Be it knownthat I, NICHOLAS J. RYAN,.a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Tuckahoe, in the county of Westchester l and State of New York, have invented a new f suffer substantial losses by the dishonesty` of passengers who purchase tickets entitling them to travel only comparatively short distances `and then ride'to destinations materially beyond-the stations for which the tickets have beenpurchased. Itl isi-ecog- Vnized also that the effort of the conductor to circumvent the dishonest-practices referred to, entails avery trying task requiring continued alertness and occupies a great Vpart of the conductors time, the practice resulting frequently in unpleasant controver-V sies with passengers.

My invention'has for it's'general object to eliminate from the operation of passengerA trains the objectionable features referred toby providing 1an indicating Y means adapted to be secured tothe back of carseat or otherwise suitably supportedV in position to be identified with-the particular seat to which it pertains, the mechanism being arranged to be controlled by the conductor and trolling means therefor, of such character as to be unfailing in their operation by the conductor, andiat the saine v time vmaking provision for contingencies incident to railway travel as -fo'r example the changing'of :seats by a passenger after payment of a fare.`

I have-in view moreover, to provide an embodiment of the invention reflecting practical considerations respecting the facility with which the parts may be produced, alssembled and adjusted, as well as to-attain simplicity and durability of construction.

Specification of Letters Patent.

e turning; to be set 'by him .upon payment ofa fare, in

that particularseat.

The nature ofztheinvention andlits advantages will be more clearly understood from the specific description following.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

-Application filed May5, 1920. Y'Serial No.'379,088. y i

Reference is tobe had to the accompany.Y

ing-,drawings forming a part'of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merelyillustrative of one example of the invention. l

. Figure 1 is .a perspective view Aofindicat-v ing means embodying my invention, showing the samemounted at the'top ofay seat back;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan viewof theindicator mechanism, the cover plate being omitted to show the interior mechanism; Fig. 3 isa longitudinal vertical section taken in planes corresponding"withvtheirregular lineB-B, 2; Fig. 4 is a detail in longitudinal vertical section, the view being given to' show :a signal that may be '.displayedfby ai passenger upon changing a ysea-'t and automatically locked in the. display position untilf'restored by the conductor, the signal being illustrated Y in the vlowered position within the casing;

Fig. 5 is a similar view to. Fig-.4, showing the signal locked in display position;v

Fig. 6 is a transverse 'vertical sectionon the line -6-'6Fig.. 3; i

sok

. Fig. 7 is perspective view ofV the keycontrolled dogs fori engagingV ratchet wheels on Vthe tape reels to hol'dfthe latteragainst Fig. 8 is a fragmentary '.perspectiveview 'given to show a means forteinporarily locking the conductors .controlling v:key ito hold the dogs out of' engagement with the ratchet wheels ofthe reels; f

In carrying out'my invention in'accordancewith the illustrated example, a' suitable casing 10 isvprovided fon-housing the mechanism and a suitable .means may be provided for. rigidly' securing said 'casing in `position onthe back of a "car seat or .other- 'wiseA to identify the indicating means with*v 1n theillu'strated example the casingis made with end lugs 11 to rest on the topof the seat to be secured by screws 12 or other suitable fastening means. Additional means is providedy inthe Way ofY side members 13 positioned to lie at the front and back of they :seat and be secured" by screws 14 orother fasteners. f 1 1 The indicating means includes Ytapes-bearing the names of the stations andy other .in-'ifi i lO ing .end bindings 18a, (F ig. 6).

of reels 16 isprovidedfor each tape and the l tape runs from oneireel through slots l19 in ,y for'compactness. Suitable means is the top of frame :15 near the endsand over a table 20 disposed beneath a sight opening 21` inthe cover 22 ofcasing 10, there being glass 23 atsaid openings.

\ i The reels are turnable by means operable from the exterior of the `casing 16 at the sides, such for example as hand wheels 24, the hubs or short shafts 25 of which extend through lateral openings in the sides ofthe casing, eachbeing adapted` to enter an end `of a` tubular reel 16.

One handwheel is provided for each reel and they are arranged alternately at" opposite sides of the casing so that one reel:` of a pair willhave its handwheel or equivalent handle at `one ,sidefof the casing, thef handwheel of the otherreel of the pair being at the opposite side of thecasing,` the arrangement making proy, vided to fasten the hub Lor shaft 'to the reel i, 16, there being indicatedset screws 27. The

ends of anreel 16 restlon curved bracket bearings 28 "rigid withithey casing at the interior. i

Thereels 16 :ofga pairVV are provided respectively with y ratchet wheels 29, 30 and key-controlled dogs are provided .for the same as follows: A tubular standard 31 is turnable as a sleeve on a post 32 rising from the bottom of the casing 10 and rigid therewith, lthe upper end of said post extending through the cover 22 orin an event it is accessible through the cover. f t the upper end33 the standard 31 is of an enlarged diameter to receive the tubular shank of a key 35 andA is formed with'a slot 34 to receive the bit 36 of the key for turning said ,standard bythe key.' On said standard are oppositely :projecting arms37, terminating indogsBS adapted toengagethe respective ratchet wheelsl29 of the two pairs `of reels fand extending fromsaid arms 37 are elongated dogs 39 adapted toengagethe other ratchet wheels 30. The frame 15 is provided with stop pins 4()` beneath the dogs 39 to y back upthe latter. The arms 37 are formed to present shoulders 41 to receive the pressure of a bar spring 42 secured to any fixed v partyof the casing as forexample to a pin 43 near the topof the casing, the arrangement being such that-said spring 42 exerts itspressure on the shoulder 41m a manner tending to turn the standard 31 and dogs 28, 29 in engagement with the ratchets.

With the above described construction, upon a conductor collecting a fare of a passenger,`he may insert the key 35 through the top of the casing'22, the key being guided by the post 32, and the bit 36 of the key will be engaged in the standard 31 at theslot 34 thereof; thus the turning of the keywill turn the standard 31 and disengage the dogs 38, 39 from the respective ratchet wheels 29, 30. The conductor may now turn the `reels 16 through the medium of handwheels 24 to unwind either tape 18 from, onereel and onto the other of the pair until the station to which the fare has been paid appears at the opening 21, whereupon l the key is ywithdrawn to permit the spring 42 to restore the dogs into engagement with the ratchets. Y y

1n order that. the conductor may not be .put to the necessity of holding the key 35 in position with the dogs disengaged and subject to the tension of the spring 42, -1 provide for locking the key with the dogs in the release position, the illustrated means for the purposeconsisting of a pendent stud 44 on the thumbpiece of the key at the bottom, said stud beingadapted toenter a hole 45 in the cover22 as the key is turnedto a position with the dogs disengaged.

It will be obvious that with a station displayed `at an opening 21, and the mechanism locked, the conductor upon again approaching the seat can ascertain lat a glance whether the station to which the fare-has forebe in a positionto demand an additional fare when circumstancesjustify it.

Looking to the contingency of a passenger after payment of a fare, changing from a` `seat in which the fare was paid to another seat, I provide a signal 46 that the passenger Vmay display, the same presenting a surface to bear an appropriate legend, such as Passenger has changed seat. Said signal is secured to a turnable transverse shaft, 47 to swing in a vertical plane for displaying the signal above the cover 22, a clearance opening 48 being provided in said cover forthe purpose. spring 49 is provided, here shownas a bar spring fixedly securedatits 'flower end to `a bracket 50 or` equivalent meansand adapted tobearfagainstthe signal 46ladjacent to thev pivot thereofto hold "the sameeith'er in positionhoused below` i the `cover 22 or injdisplay position, the signal being formed with two surfaces 51, 452 at such angles `to each other as to receive the pressure of the spring, the spring `bearing against .the one surface 51 whenthe signal y been paid has been passed.V He will thereisA housed, and against the other surface 52 v when thesignal is displayed. The signal swingableto a display position'by a passenger, the ends of shaft `47 being provided with handles 53 atthe exteriorof casing' 10. The handles maybe secured in any'suitable manner; they arel shownV in` the illustrated example'with hubs 53a receiving set. screws 531. The signalV 46 is shown asv formed with an elongated i hub 46a having a slot 46b adapted to receive a pin 47av o n shaft 47.

While the passenger may display the sigthe conductor can swing the signal from the display position. 'To provide for locking the signal in display position, an upstanding spring 54 is provided which-rises from an arm 37, said spring terminating in a lateral upper end 55 which extends into a slot 56 formed in thesignal 46, -there being a notch 57 complementary to said slot. 'With the swinging of the signal upwardly to the display position by turning the shaft 47, t

through the medium of one of the handles 53, the notch 57 will be brought above the end 55 of spring 54 so that any attempt to press the signal downwardly from the display position, will be resisted by said end'55 entering notch 57. The conductor, however, may lower the signal since when the tubular standard 31 is turned bythe key 35 and the arms 37 swung through an arc to disengage the dogs 38,39 vfrom ratchet wheels 29, 30, the spring 54 will bemoved Kto the dotted line position of Fig. 5, out -of'line with the notch 57 so that the conductor may manually lower the signal, thebent end 55 of spring 54 being aordedclearanceby theslot 56. l/Vhe'n the signal 46 reaches the display position, the spring 49 will snap from the surface 51 to the surface 52 for holding the signal raised. lVhen :the signal is lowered the said spring 49 will spring from the surface 52 to the surface 51, 'holding'the signal Vin the lowered position. .p

As the key 35 is turned by the. conductor to disengage the pawls 33, 39, from the ratchet wheels 29, 30, the lockingjprojed tion 44 will spring `into'the recess 45 and hold the pawls disengaged until the key is again positively `turned bythe conductor to restore the parts.

To prevent clothing or other objects catching between the handwheel 24 and-"thev casing 10 curvedguardsfS are providedon the sides of the casing beneath said handwheel.. i

l would state in conclusion that whilethe illustrated example constitutes apractical embodiment of my invention, I do notk limit myself strictly to the mechanical Y details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. An indicating means for passenger cars including a tape bearing station names,

leased.' nal 46, `the arrangement is such thatonly zwinding meansrfor saidv tape, means optionwinding means ,together with locking means j for said keyactuated means to hold the iththe winding means rey 'same in position Y 2.-' An indicatingme'ans for passenger cars vto indicate the particular station to which arfare has been'paid, said means including a casing, a tape mounted in said casing, the

latterf presenting a sight opening through which the tape Vmay be viewed, winding 'means for the tape and optionally operable from the exterior of the casing to permit the `tape being controlled by a conductor, .means to holdV the' winding means against turning,

andV meansV independent ofthe winding Y means and operable from the exterior of the `lcasing to,engage'ordisengage said holding means; together with locking means to hold the eXteriorly operable meansV in position with the holding means disengaged.

3.1An indicating means for passenger cars ,to indicate l'the'particular station to which a fare has been paid, said means including a casing,"a tape mounted in said casing, the

latter presenting; a sight jopening through which the' tape may be'fviewed,^a pair of" winding reels forsaid tape adapted tobe turned from'V the exterior of the casing, *ratchet wheels on said reelsfdogs for said ratchet wheels, ,and'meansindependent of 'said rwinding reels tocontrol'` said dogs from `the exteriorof the casing tohold or release the ratchet wheels ;y together with locking means'to hold said eXteriorly operable means 4. An indicating means for passenger cars to indicatethe particular stationfto which a fare has been paid, sa-id,means including a casingwa tape'mounted in said. casing, the

latter presenting a sight Vopening through which the-tapemay be viewed, a pair of Vwinding reels for said tape vadapted to be turned from the exterior of the casing,

ratchetwwheels on said reels, a turnable element mounted in said casing lindependent Vof saidxreels, and dogs carriedfbysaid element` Vand, adapted to engage 'for disengznge the ratchet wheels :with theturning of said elefare has beenl paid, said means includingv a tape, a revoluble means provided with ratchet wheels and adapted to windy said tape, a plurality of dogs for said ratchet fin positionA with theratchet-wheels released.V

iio

wheels, and means independent of said revoluble means and mounting saidv dogs and adapted to beturnedto engage or dis'engage saidrwheels; together with locking meansy y. Wheels.

Jfor said` last mentioned means `to `hold the samewith said dogs disengaged from said ratchet-Wheels. i

i 6. An indicatinsmeans of the class described, includi'ngal casing, aplurality of tapes,a pair of Winding drums for each tape, eaclrdrumihaving a ratchet `Wheel, a

dog for each ratchet Wheel, and means ini dependent of saidwinding drums to simultaneously engage or .disengage the several dogs; together with locking meansffor said last mentioned means to hold the same with said dogs disengaged from said ratchet 7. An indicating means of the class described, including a` tape, Winding means for-.said tape, holding means to` prevent the Winding means from turning, and a key to actuate said holding means independentto'f the Winding means for holdingorlreleasing the Winding,meansgvtogether with means to automatically lock thelrey when said holding means. is,inthe release position.

8. An indicating meansof the class de scribed including pa`tape,.winding reels for said tapefratchet Wheels on said reels, dogs `adapted to engage `or disengage the ratchet Vso Wheels, a turnable element 'mounted independent of said reelsV and mounting-said dogs,l a spring tending to turn said element to a position with the` dogs in engagement, and a key for turning saidelement; together with meansV to` lock saidkey when the dogsV i are in release position.

9. Anj indicating means of the class dei scribed, f including a casing, .optionally operable means in the casing to indicate a station for which a fare has been paid, controlinling means therefor operable `ifrom the eX- ing means `therefor operable from. the eXterior of the casing so that a conductormay actuate.thejsame,.controlling meansrfor said first-mentioned means to hold or releasefthe same, key-operated means to'. control said holding means, a signal optionally movable Vto display position-,means to automatically ,lock the signal when moved to display position, and meansto restore said signal, said `last-mentioned. means beingr'eleasable by theeontrolling means for the holding, means.

An indicating means of the classtdescribed, including a casing, a tapeV in said casing,iwinding reels forzthe tape,v ratcheti Wheels on said reels, holding dogs for the ratchet Wheels, .a turnable Velement carryingl said dogs,- a rkey engageable from .the exterior ofthe casing to turn said element, a signal optionally movable to display position, andmeans to automatically lock the signal when moved to display position, said last-mentioned means being. adapted to be released by said `key when turning said element for restoring the signal fromsignaling position..l y l l2. An indicating means of the class described including a casing, an indicating tape in said casing, Winding means for said tapa-means to control said Winding means from the exterior of the casing, a signal optionally movableyfrom the exterior of the easing to move the signal. to display position-,1 and means to automatically lock the signal When moved Yto display position, said.

locking means being -adapted to be released by said controlling-meansto restorethe signal from display, position.` 13. An indicating means tapein' saidcasing, Winding means for said tapeg'means to .controlsaid Winding means from the exterior of the casing, a signal optionally movable from the exterior of the casing to move the signal to display .position, said signal having a slot and a notch complementary to the slot, an element extending into said slot, said notch in the throwing of. .the signal to display "position Abeing adapted to assumeY aposition adjacentyto said element for preventing movement ofthe signalffrom display` position,

said element being movable by said controlling means to a position` avvayA from said notch. i

. l V NIcHoLAs J. RYAN.V

. y of the class de- Y scribed including a casing, an indicating -y 

